APPIS INNOVATOR PROGRAM
As the role of the patient community in advocating and supporting its members gets bigger, there is also a greater need to offer support through capability-building programs and tools.
One of the key components of the APPIS Initiative is to recognize and support patient organizations that have found innovative ways to elevate and amplify patients' voice.
In 2022 the inaugural APPIS Innovator Program was launched to further partner with select patient organizations and help them scale even further and continue to improve outcomes for healthcare consumers.
Winners 2022
Twenty-three patient organizations entered under the categories of ‘Patient Education’ and ‘Health Policy Shaping’, representing 11 countries and territories from across Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMA).
An esteemed expert panel of judges selected the winners from a shortlist of five finalists based on their impact, innovation, sustainability and scalability. The winners will receive support to help them scale and improve their existing programs in the form of mentoring, networking opportunities, funding, and coaching.
ICanServe Foundation
ICanServe Foundation will improve the data and digital infrastructure of their Ating Dibdibin’ (Take Your Breast Care to Heart) program to help monitor, evaluate and identify gaps. This information will be used to measure the effectiveness of their community-based early detection program for breast cancer and make modifications and changes to improve the program.
The ICanServe Foundation, formerly Information on Breast Cancer and Other Services, was founded in 1999 by four breast cancer survivors to provide hope and help to women with breast cancer. It promotes and conducts early breast cancer detection programs in local communities and provides sustained access to accurate diagnosis, timely treatment, and patient navigation, including the ‘Ating Dibdibin’ (Take Your Breast Care to Heart) program, the only comprehensive cancer control program in the Philippines.
Psoriasis Philippines
Psoriasis Philippines will broaden their weekly online show ‘Weekends with PsorPhil’ targeting people living with psoriasis, to an expanded and more inclusive show entitled ‘Wellness Weekends Philippines’, which will cover other diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease amongst others. The expanded program will help patients access accurate and scientific information to initiate meaningful discussions with their physicians.
Psoriasis Philippines, a support group that represents and advocates for the rights of 1.8 million Filipinos living with psoriasis, aims to broaden their weekly online show for people living with psoriasis, to include other diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease amongst others. The popular program, which has gained over 1.3 million views in 2021, helps patients access accurate and scientific information to initiate meaningful discussions with their physicians.